Fulham and Aston Villa are set to clash at Craven Cottage this Saturday, with both teams seeking redemption after their previous results. Fulham's narrow defeat to Manchester City and Villa's draw against Manchester United have left them in 8th and 5th place, respectively, in the Premier League standings.
Team news: Injury concerns loom large
Aston Villa faces significant selection challenges ahead of the match. Unai Emery is grappling with the potential absence of up to seven first-team players. Ezri Konsa and Amadou Onana withdrew from international duty due to injuries, while Jacob Ramsey continues to battle a groin issue. John McGinn's hamstring injury is more severe than initially assessed, casting doubt over his participation. Jaden Philogene also picked up a knock while representing England U21.
In contrast, Marco Silva's Fulham squad is almost entirely fit. Carlos Vinicius and Jorge Cuenca are nearing a return from foot injuries, but Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey's participation remains uncertain due to travel issues during the international break. If deemed fit, both players could be included in the starting eleven.
Aston Villa does have some positive news, with Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara, both recovering from ACL injuries, having started training with the first team. Although not at 100% fitness, they could be included in the squad.
Key players to watch
Adama Traore has been a force to be reckoned with this season, proving to be a menace for Premier League defences. His standout performance against Manchester City, where he nearly bagged a first-half hat-trick, showcases his immense threat. Pep Guardiola even labelled the 28-year-old as unstoppable following that encounter.
For Aston Villa, Youri Tielemans has been a model of consistency. The Belgian midfielder boasts the highest average match rating in the squad at 7.65 out of 10. His ability to dictate play in midfield and contribute effectively to both attack and defence makes him integral to Villa's success.
Predicted lineups
Fulham are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Leno, Tete, Bassey, Andersen, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, and Adama, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi, Muniz.
Aston Villa are likely to adopt a 4-4-2 formation: Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Tielemans, Barkley, Rogers in midfield, Duran, Watkins.
Villa's recent supremacy against Fulham
Aston Villa have had the upper hand in recent meetings, emerging victorious in five of their last six Premier League clashes with Fulham. However, Fulham will be determined to prevent back-to-back home losses to Villa, a fate they've never suffered in the league.
Villa's recent form in the English capital has been remarkable, with just one loss in their last 12 Premier League games in London. Under the guidance of Unai Emery, they've racked up eight wins in London, equalling their tally from the previous 48 top-flight matches in the city.